The technology of Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) has enabled robust as well as simple access to the transcriptomes of the single cells. With Single Cell RNA-Seq, getting better insights about the individual cell tissues has become a lot easier. This, in turn, provides more information and a better understanding of immunity and different diseases. In comparison to the traditional methods, this technology allows you to analyze millions of single cells in an effective manner with high throughput.
Some of the Significant Benefits of Single-Cell RNA-Seq
- Gain Better Understanding
To gain better analysis and understanding of the different cell types, Single-Cell RNA-Seq is widely being used in recent times. It helps in providing a better understanding of the clonal evolution as well as tumor heterogeneity. It can include the study of metastatic clones, cancer stem cells, lineage analysis, as well as drug-resistant clones.
It is also used to gain a better and deeper understanding of complex tissues such as neural tissues. Moreover, identifying the cell markers and cell types becomes easy with the help of Single-Cell RNA-Seq. It helps in understanding the differentiation pathways in the system and developmental biology.
- Analysis of Rare Cell Types
The scRNASeq is very helpful in analyzing the rare cell types efficiently. While the commonly used techniques to analyze the rare cells are the NGS approach and the microarrays, it has certain limitations. These techniques are only restricted to a large cell population. In the trace quantity samples, these techniques prove to be ineffective. However, single-cell RNA sequencing proves to be helpful in such cases.
In the case of the rare cell types, the scRNASeq can easily characterize the hidden population and effectively measure the individual cell gene expression. This helps in overcoming the potential limitation of the traditional techniques related to cell sample size. Moreover, in order to preserve the samples effectively and enhance the outcomes, a DNA RNA shield can be used. Whether you have abundant samples of different cell types or a scarce and rare sample, scRNASeq is the optimal solution.
- Reveals Hidden Differences
Studying cell by cell and revealing the hidden differences can be difficult using traditional techniques. However, scRNA-Seq makes this happen. Heterogeneity is always present in the different types of cells, including the T-cells, stem cells, tumor cells, as well as embryonic cells.
Analyzing the differences seems to be difficult. But with the latest technique of scRNA-Seq, you can easily carry out the analysis of the complexity existing in the biological systems. It helps in providing an unbiased and detailed result and efficiently reveals the hidden differences.
- Detection of Cancer Stem Cells
Cancer is often considered as the most heterogeneous as well as complex of all diseases. The presence of the cancer stem cells acts as a major source for the formation, drug resistance, and metastasis of the tumor. In order to ensure effective diagnosis and treatment for cancer, it is important to address the cancer stem cells at an early date. The scRNASeq proves to be effective in this situation.
It helps in the detection of the genetic information, control of genes, as well as the difference between gene expressions in individual cells. Hence, it becomes easy to understand the intra-tumoral heterogeneity, analyze the cancer stem cells, and map the clone in the tumor. It helps in providing helpful information for cancer research. Owing to all these features, scRNA-Seq is increasingly being used in the research of lung cancer, breast cancer, renal cell cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, and more.
- Enables exploring the Complex Systems
Single-cell RNA sequencing helps in exploring the complex systems beyond the different cell types. It enables cell-by-cell molecular as well as cellular characterization of the cells. The scRNA-Seq makes it possible to explore complex systems such as the immune system without any limitation. This feature of scRNA-Seq enables the technique to be applied to neurology, functional genomics, immunology, oncology, as well as stem cell biology.
- Describes the Regulatory Networks and Developmental Trajectories
Identifying the gene regulatory networks and describing the developmental trajectories is another significant application of the scRNA-Seq. It helps in studying the molecular dynamics of the different cell types during the development stages.
It also helps in revealing the changes in cell fate as well as mapping the developmental trajectories. The scRNA-Seq enables analysis of the developmental trajectories of the hematopoietic SCs. It can even be applied to determine the transcriptional state of the different individual muscle stem cells as well as the primary myoblasts.
Apart from all the benefits mentioned above, scRNA-Seq is also applied to identify the different cellular states as well as the speed of the cell cycle. With so many benefits, scRNA-Seq has emerged as a popular technique and finds application for various purposes. In order to ensure better accuracy, a DNA RNA shield must be used while employing this technique.